Belt btjckle



F- C. SIMMONS u Bm' BUCKLE File-i Feb. 19. 1927 Patented Nov. 29, i927.

`iran stares FREDERICK C. SIMMONS, OF HIGHLAND ERK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO FIONEER oies.

SUSPENDER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Barr BUCKLE.

Application filed February 19, 1927.

The invention relates to improvements in belt buckles. The object is to provide an im` proved construction for maintaining the shape oit the face portion and for maint-aining the belt in close engagement with the vertical edge or margin of the face portion which is opposite the other vert-ical edge or margin near Which the clamping element eugages the belt.

For example the belt buckle, now in common use, comprises a tace portion, With portions at the top and bottom bent around back of the face portion and extending a short distance toward each other in planes approximately parallel with the plane oit the tace portion. @ne end oit each bent-over portion is formed into a bearing for the clamping element which operateson a vertical axis. In order to provide space for the operation of the clamping element, these bent-over portions lie in a plane removed from the plane of the tace port-ion a distance considerably greater than the thickness oi' the belt, so that when the clamping element clamps the belt to the tace portion near one of its vertical margins, the other vertical margin is liable to be separated a substantial distance from the surface of the belt, which detracts :trom its neat appearance, and `forms an edge Which is liable to catch upon other parts ot the clothing. This is especially the case When the buckle' has va greater vertical extension, such as is used With a Wide belt.

This objection has been overcome by providing separate channels for the belt at the top and bottom of the buckle, and providing stepped extensions removed a greater distance from the iface portion 'for providing the vertical pivot-bearing for the clamping member.

Referring to the drawings, Which illus-I trate merely by Way of example a suitable embodiment of my invention;-

Fig. l is a view in perspective of a buckle made in accordance With my invention. p

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2, 2 ot Fig. l, showing the belt in place.` i

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3, 3 of Fig. 2.

Serial No. 169,443.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The face portion 5 is usually slightly concavo-convex and has a vertical extension greater than its horizontal extension. At the upper and lower ends are portions 6 bent back of the face portion 5 into -a plane substantially parallel with the tace portion. These bent portions 6, Withthe adjacent parts of the tace portion, form channels 7 for the longitudinal edges of the belt 8. Beyond these portions 6 are extensions 9 substantially at right angles With portions 6 and from these right angled extensions are further extensions 10, the ends of which are formed into bearings 1l for the pivot ends 12 ot the clamping member 13. In other Words the two extensions or portions 6 and l0, are in stepped relationship, and both in planes approximately parallel With the face portion, the first forming with adjacent face portions the belt channels, While the others have portions bent into pivot-bearings 'for the clamping member 13. This clamping member 13 engages the belt near one of the vertical side margins 14: of the face portion 5.

In the old construction, Where the chan-y nels for the belt Were considerably Wider than the thickness of the belt, the opposite margin 15 ot the face portion Was not held firmly against the belt, while in the present. structure, as shown, the channels 7 are only slightly greater in Width than the thickness of the belt, so that the belt, at all times, is'

held firmly against the margin '15.

This triple bending, or corrugated formav tion, oi' the bent-over portions 6, 9 and 10, tend to stiften the rstructure so that a light gauge of metal maybe used Without danger of the buckle becoming distorted.

Vhat I claim is z- 1. A belt buckle comprising a face por tion, portions at the top and bottom of the i'ace portion bent back of the face portion and forming, With adjacent parts ot the face portion, channels for the longitudinal inargins of the belt, and further portions bent away 'from the face portions and then into nels7 further portions bent from the top and bottoni portions and stepped away from the face portion in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the face portion and having extensions forming pivotbearings and a clampingr member pivotally mounted on said bearings.

FREDERICK C. SIMMONS. 

